How to get a Clinical Psychology job in New Zealand

Are you interested in working as a Clinical Psychologist in New Zealand? If so, read about the super career opportunities available and what you need to do to apply for these jobs.

Clinical Psychologists are one of New Zealand's most sought after professional groups. Featuring on both long term skills shortage list and regional shortage lists, clinical psychologists have opportunities to work all over New Zealand in hospitals, forensic, community mental health teams, child and adolescent services and services for the elderly. The scope of professional practice opportunities available is vast covering generalist and highly specialised niche areas, working with patients of all ages in cities, rural and remote settings. Clinical psychologists also work with the Maori and Pasifika peoples who have their own unique culture, philosophy and considerable health challenges.

Having skills and qualifications in a profession which is in short local supply makes obtaining a visa to live and work in New Zealand easier than usual and the employer will act as the sponsor for the initial work visa. 

There are currently 3,713 psychologists on the New Zealand Psychologists Board's Register (that number includes clinical, counselling, neuropsychologist, educational psychologist and general scope psychologists) but just over 3,000 registrants hold an Annual Practicing Certificate. Over 50% of registered psychologists specialise in clinical psychology which is largest field of psychology in New Zealand.

New Zealand Mental Health Services

Most clinical psychologists work in public healthcare sector mental health care services in teams dedicated to specific functions. There were formally 20 district health boards of New Zealand, 15 in the North Island and 5 in the South Island but in 2022, these were disbanded and merged into a single service Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand. This organisation provides primary, secondary and tertiary medical care, pubic health and dental services to all eligible New Zealand residents (citizens and permanent residents).

The mental health services have been restructured and modernised in recent years due to unprecedented demand from a growing population, aging demographic and an increased incidence of substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. There is an increased focus on community treatment and family involvement in patient care and an effort to reduce hospital admissions by emphasising preventative and early intervention services.

Mental Health Teams are multidisciplinary and include psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers and mental health nurses working in hospitals and community centres.

Psychology and Psychiatry services are provided across the specialisms of:

• general adult psychiatry
• old age psychiatry
• child and adolescent psychiatry
• substance abuse
• forensic psychiatry
• liaison psychiatry
• psychotherapy

It is an exciting time to work in the mental health services of New Zealand as they evolve and take on the challenges of providing care to rural and remote communities, urban areas and tackle a diverse range of problems including acute psychosis, dementia and eating disorders.

How do you become a clinical psychologist in New Zealand?

To work as a clinical psychologist, you will need to register with the New Zealand Psychologists Board and obtain an annual practice certificate (APC). If your work is purely in teaching or research, you may not require an APC.

You will require a masters degree in clinical psychology and some professional experience in the field and if English is not your native language, you will need to demonstrate English language proficiency by means of formal testing or education or work experience in an English speaking country. IELTS academic module and the OET are the acceptable English proficiency tests.

With your qualifications, board registration and an up to date CV showcasing your skills then you are all set to find a job.

How to Apply for Clinical Psychologist Jobs in New Zealand

The major considerations are location and scope of practice. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington and the largest commercial city is Auckland. Christchurch in the South Island is the third city and Hamilton in Waiakto region the fourth. These are the cities with tertiary healthcare services and the most highly differentiated and specialised mental health teams. Outside of the major cities, mental health professionals are based in district general hospitals (100-400 beds) and community clinics and tend to have a broader scope of practice.

Once a decision is made about scope of practice and location, the following steps are advisable:

• search for jobs and identify the most appropriate
• read job adverts and descriptions if available. The latter tend to be generic and not especially helpful but usually define the key criteria the employer requires and other less stringent negotiable requirements.
• draft a CV appropriately for each job application ensuring that essential criteria are addressed
• submit the CV prior to the job closing date. Some employers wait for the formal closing date prior to shortlisting candidates for interviews whereas others interview as soon as a good candidate appears.



Search for Clinical Psychologist Jobs

You can view advertised jobs on our website  and apply for them.  You can search for jobs by location or specialism. Do you have a preference for cities over rural areas or small towns? Do you prefer to work in a hospital or the freedom of a community team? Do you wish to work with adults, children or the elderly?

If you search through our vacancies you will find a range of posts in a variety of locations to suit every taste.

Should you not find any positions of interest, please register your CV and contact us to discuss your options.